Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-04-05
iCopynrhi. issi. By Aisood feTt''
THE GOOD OLD TIMES OF A
CENTURY AGO.
By Jrpor c. T. WHITMAN.
Chapter H.
rir "wrrcu OF rSpoE.'

had heard little, out fumot hae
reached the village ,h,, Capt. Jones bad
lo., out Of bis company. one man killed
and three wounded snd ,ha, Samuel Wa
The oae killed. A letter bad just been
received by Capt. Jons,'' father, bat ~hs'
4. content. ver. ws not exactly
known.
The announcement fell like a bolt up
on the household. which received IL A. q
stroke Of fate. Amer the fret shock Was
over. they bsgsn to hope ihs, there
-n some mistake Aboa, !, that samuel
va. only wounded. OF ihs, the dead sol-
der ~.s no, their relative.
"Who told you sboa, IL. John ?" his
father asked. an,ioa. nov 10 Ascertain
the source of hi, Information.
deacon Samnsr. Who said he would
90 to Mr.. Jones'. and call round aud l.i
u. kno-." answered John.
There wU rap A. the door. and oa
going 10 ascertain Who VAS there. Mrs.
Tay lor ~s. surprised TO 'ss Aunt Betty
81 though, n may BE-. yol hada
heard the news. and ! would come over
aud tell you" was her hni sAla,aiion.
sv,denily thinking il good opportunity
10 inpre- the family with her authority
aud imporiAaee. Mr. Taylor An'~ered
oaly With = choking sob, And throwing
ker.slf into Aehair. ~i,hoa, word Of re-
.pon,e. she gave vent TO her feeling. by .
DIV Of ,esu. Presently the impadenee
Of The woman began TO arouse ieellns
Of indignation against her.
"Ar, yoa no, going 10 invite me IN
d,msnisd the has, till ',Anding at The
door.
"whA, could have brought you here
responded Mrs. Taylor. her anger rising
every momtn, ~ the erone. unwtlcom'
presence. "Hs,e you no respect ior pfi'
,aie grief ~ such a time az this Ih'
Evil One himself must possess you
And s,,oni.hed A. her own bo!dne.'. she
burst ia,o another aDod Of tears.
Auni Betty was never known 10 e
either 70 the house Of tess,ins, or OF
mourning. to be merry with other men!
ones. OF to weep With and comfort those
,hA, mourned. The cause Of her sp'
peafsnee a, ,hi. time va. spparent. Not
one Of the household ,sii = word. The
,gre, u whai bad uan,pircd was to-
deep. All fel, As did the sorr0w..,fieker
.nd Angeftd mother. while they ieaiet
ior the consequences. Aunt Betty took
in the situation fully. and being angry Al
her reception. she raised herself up from
hsr bent position. And while her LITTLE
sark,n eye. dashed and hsr nose almost
met hsr chin a, every movement OF bet
,oothle.. avs, ,he stretched out her Ions
bony hand in msnaeing manner ahc
said
"a curse upon this household. aud :
curse upon you and yours forever
With thl. she resumed her former Ai,i'
iuds. turned and wen, away.
What have you done. Abigail
va. ,h. llmo., heari'rrnding eHelAma'
ton Of her husband. a. soon - be could
fnd word. fof u,iersnee. Before sh'
could reply. they were interrupted by the
presence of Deacon Sumner Ia the door
way, With a smile on hi. eoun,enanee.
Good news. Bro. Taylor" be said
capt Jones writes that Samuel ~a'
only wounded while rushing forward ,C
pro,te, The per.On Of Col. LlphAn, ~ho
vas leading = charge on the British
works. lie ". stunned aud left for
dead on the field. but be recovered. snd
i. now having every care ,hl, Is possible
lie i. doing well and Jacob Is nursing
him. A, came by the store le,,sl
for you Wa. handed me, which Mr
Bailey said had been overlooked. IL il
probably from Jacob"
Gn.ping him by the hand Dsseor
Tay ylor shook il heartily.
"You come. Bro. Samner. asa mes
.snger from heaven, and God bless you
for The good rspor, you have brough, Us
But here. Abigail" .Aid be, turning ,C
bis wife. "tske this letter aud read H.
my hands uemble 80 and my sish, is q
dim, ths, can't make out wha, is in IL,
The letter was eagerly opened ant
found to be from jacob. IL was writer
hastily. and va. brief. bu, enough wa
in IL to confirm the information slread,
brought by Deacon Sumner.
"As you called. = messenger OF sno,h
er kind had just left US, said Deacon
Taylor. addressing bis visitor.
"Ye.. | saw her 10 away. with a. un
usual look Of malice on her face. sh'
/. prophecies OF evil, and no mistake
and IL seems, this time, is one OF lies
Should Samuel return, her power owe
the weaker member, Of the community
~ill be broken" replied the good dsaeoI
a. he wen, TO bis daughter. and takins
up bis little grandson. gave him . ki'l
on each cheek. tossed him up in the ali
t~o or three iim,s, and then handed bin
back TO his mother
"Tha, is a child worth having, Rs
ehel." he said.
Never did relief come more timely q
q distressed and stricken family
bat siill the memory Of the eroae's eur.'
Was any thing but pleasant. This part o
what ,ranspirsd during Aunt Be,ty's call
was not related to Deacon Sumner. VIII
was indignant q, her conduct. and ven
home with feeling against her that h
had never before experienced.
While ct his usual evenings devo
tons, Aunt Betty called At his house
and was shown into another room. Sh'
wanted to zee Deacon Sumner. but b
had . sres. deal TO pray for ,ha, even
ing. The victory Of the Americsl
troops the prospect Of the successful ter
minatiou Of the struggle. the safety o